Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi

Summary

Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi (born 2 March 1979) is the 19th Menteri Besar of Johor and UMNO MLA for Machap, appointed in March 2022 after BN's landslide victory in the Johor state election. A descendant of UMNO founder Datuk Onn Jaafar and former Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, he has made the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone his administration's primary economic priority, overseeing a record RM110 billion in approved state investments in 2025. He dissolved the Johor State Legislative Assembly on 1 June 2026, paving the way for the 16th Johor state election on 11 July 2026, in which he is defending the Machap seat.

Biography

Datuk Onn Hafiz bin Ghazi (born 2 March 1979, Simpang Renggam, Kluang, Johor) is a Malaysian politician serving as the 19th Menteri Besar of Johor and Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Machap since March 2022 [1]. He comes from one of Malaysia's most prominent political families: he is the great-great-grandson of Johor's first Menteri Besar Datuk Jaafar Muhamad, the great-grandson of UMNO founder Datuk Onn Jaafar, and the grandson of Malaysia's third Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn [2]. He is also the nephew of former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein [3]. He was educated at Royal Military College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom [1]. He began his political career in UMNO Youth, serving as an EXCO member of UMNO Youth from 2013 to 2018 under the leadership of Khairy Jamaluddin, and as political secretary to Hishammuddin Hussein when the latter was Defence Minister [2]. He won the Layang-Layang state seat in the 2018 Johor state election with a majority of 364 votes, then switched to Machap in 2022, winning with a majority of 6,543 votes [1]. He was sworn in as Menteri Besar on 15 March 2022 before Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at Istana Bukit Serene [3]. He serves as Johor UMNO Chairman (since December 2023) and Johor BN Chairman (since February 2024), and is Division Chief of Simpang Renggam UMNO [1]. On 1 June 2026, he announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly ahead of fresh state elections [2].

Known for

Onn Hafiz Ghazi is defined politically by his role as Johor's 19th Menteri Besar and as the principal state-level architect of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which he has positioned as a regional economic corridor [4]. He is also identified with a hands-on, ground-level governance style — conducting unannounced visits to state agencies, hospitals and infrastructure sites to verify public service delivery [5]. His administration recorded Johor's highest-ever annual investment figure of RM110 billion in 2025, which Bernama reported was expected to create 24,584 new jobs [2].

Political positions

On economic development, Onn Hafiz has consistently championed the JS-SEZ as a vehicle for job creation and foreign investment across all 10 Johor districts, stating that its revenue will be distributed through state incentives to benefit residents statewide, not only those in the Johor Bahru corridor [3]. On environmental governance, he has directed all relevant state authorities to take firm enforcement action against industrial polluters, stating a government target of zero river pollution by 2030 [2]. On coalition politics, he has publicly ruled out any post-election cooperation with DAP in Johor's state government, positioning Johor BN as governing independently of the federal-level BN–Pakatan Harapan arrangement [6]. He has framed this position around the concept of 'Bangsa Johor' — a shared Johorian identity cutting across race — rather than on racial grounds [6]. On public transportation, he acknowledged that an efficient public transport system in Johor Bahru is 'no longer a luxury but a necessity,' and has supported the Johor Bahru–Singapore Rapid Transit System Link, expected to begin operations on 1 January 2027 [1]. On fiscal governance, he has stated that state revenue must be returned to the people through welfare programmes such as Bantuan Kasih Johor, describing this as a consistent practice of his administration [2].

Education

1. 1990sAttended Royal Military College, Malaysia.⛓
2. Late 1990s–Early 2000sReceived Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.⛓

Before politics

1. Early 2000sServed as political secretary to Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein when the latter was Defence Minister under the Barisan Nasional federal administration.⛓
2. Early careerHeld posts as Sembrong UMNO Youth vice chief and subsequently Sembrong UMNO Youth chief before becoming Simpang Renggam UMNO Division Vice Chief.⛓

Political career

1. 2013–2018Served as EXCO member of UMNO Youth under the leadership of Khairy Jamaluddin.⛓
2. May 2018Won the Layang-Layang state seat in the 14th Johor state election under UMNO/BN with a majority of 364 votes, defeating candidates from PKR and PAS.⛓
3. March 2020Appointed as member of the Johor State Executive Council (EXCO), holding the Tourism, Youth and Sports portfolio under Menteri Besar Hasni Mohammad.⛓
4. 12 March 2022Won the Machap state seat in the 15th Johor state election under UMNO/BN with a majority of 6,543 votes, defeating three other candidates including one from PEJUANG.⛓
5. 15 March 2022Sworn in as the 19th Menteri Besar of Johor by Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Bahru.⛓
6. December 2023Appointed Johor UMNO State Chairman, replacing Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.⛓
7. February 2024Appointed Johor Barisan Nasional State Chairman.⛓
8. 1 June 2026Announced the dissolution of the Johor State Legislative Assembly following the consent of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, paving the way for the 16th Johor state election.⛓

Election history

• 2022Machap (Johor State)Won⛓
• 2018Layang-Layang (Johor State)Won⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs Menteri Besar, Onn Hafiz has presented his administration's record as one of economic transformation — citing Johor's highest-ever investment figure of RM110 billion in 2025, record state revenue of RM2.67 billion, and the JS-SEZ as drivers of job creation and long-term development for all Johoreans.⛓
• OppositionPakatan Harapan, represented by PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, challenged Onn Hafiz's insistence that PH name its Menteri Besar candidate ahead of the Johor election, describing his position as contradictory, and called on voters to focus on economic well-being rather than the Menteri Besar post.⛓
• ExpertIlham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar assessed that Onn Hafiz is likely to be retained as BN's Menteri Besar candidate for the 2026 Johor state election, citing his track record, close ties with the Johor palace, and that he is 'free of baggage,' while noting that the final appointment decision rests with the Sultan of Johor.⛓
• PublicThe Edge reported that in conversations with residents across Johor Bahru and surrounding districts, some voters described a shift in support toward individual personalities over party affiliation, with Johor Bahru property manager Marina Osman noting that Onn Hafiz's practice of personally attending to ground-level issues — such as broken streetlights or drainage problems — resonates with ordinary residents.⛓
• VerifiedFactsOnn Hafiz was born on 2 March 1979 in Simpang Renggam, Kluang, Johor. He was sworn in as the 19th Menteri Besar of Johor on 15 March 2022. He holds a BA in Accounting from the University of Hertfordshire. He is Johor UMNO Chairman (since December 2023) and Johor BN Chairman (since February 2024). He dissolved the Johor State Legislative Assembly on 1 June 2026. The 16th Johor state election is scheduled for 11 July 2026.⛓